AUSTIN— Polish the cauldrons and dust off those brooms, Texas State Parks are getting extra spooky this October for some scary-fun events happening throughout the month. A variety of family-friendly Halloween events are scheduled for ghouls and goblins of all ages, including zombie apocalypse hikes, jack-o’-lantern scavenger hunts, trick-or-treating at the park and spooky campfire stories, just to name a few.
TERLINGUA— Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a free fiesta Nov. 3 at the Sauceda Ranger Station located in the middle of the park.
TOYAHVALE— Balmorhea State Park is closing its gates Sept. 3 for continued park improvements scheduled to run through Spring 2020.
AUSTIN— Beginning Sept. 1, the operation and maintenance of six Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) sites will be transferred to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The 86th Texas Legislature approved House Bill 1422 which transfers operational control of these sites to the THC.
LA PORTE— The Battleship Texas State Historic Site will close to the public Aug. 26, allowing staff and contractors full accessibility to the ship ensuring they can safely perform the necessary preparation work ahead of a repair project. The last day the public will be able to explore the Battleship Texas will be Sunday, Aug. 25.
TERLINGUA— The interior of the Big Bend Ranch State Park Complex will be closed for the safety of park visitors during wildlife surveys Aug. 19 – 27. During the surveys, staff will be counting desert bighorn sheep by helicopter and dispatching non-native aoudad (barbary sheep) when encountered.
PORT ARANSAS— Mustang Island State Park is reopening for overnight camping after Hurricane Harvey storm damage delayed the previously scheduled restroom replacement project in the campgrounds.
AUSTIN— Galveston Island State Park is keeping its beachside gates open through the summer before beginning a major beach redevelopment project in September. The park will continue to accept new day use and beachside overnight reservations until Sept. 3.
AUSTIN— The 23rd annual Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC) has wrapped up another year and the winners of the largest and longest bird-watching competition in the United States have chosen 10 conservation projects to award grant funds. Grants range in amount to $1,000 to $10,000.
AUSTIN – As boaters head out to Texas waterways for the Fourth of July holiday, Texas Game Wardens and thousands of law enforcement officers will be on heightened alert looking for those violating boating under the influence laws. These ramped up efforts to crack down on impaired boaters will continue July 5-7 during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.